SPTECO to adopt CEFE methodology

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Wednesday March 20, 2013 00:00

Speaking at a CEFE workshop organised by the Selebi-Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) Regional Development Agency here recently a lecturer at the college, Kgaufelo Nthokane explained that the literacy rate and the entrepreneurship skills rate are low in the country. He said that they should find a way to cultivate entrepreneurship spirit amongst the students.

Nthokane noted that it is time authorities are influenced to change the curriculum. He stated that the adoption of the methodology could only be done after CEFE has been given accreditation by Botswana Training Authority (BOTA). 'The curriculum is about to be changed and we should take advantage of that and advocate for the change to be relevant,' he said.

Another lecturer at SPTECO, Terrance Mavedzenge said some of the exercises that are offered by CEFE are the same as the programmes that they are offering, adding that the only difference is the wording. He explained that the programmes that the college is offering are not upgraded and do not offer the needs on entrepreneurship.

CEFE programme facilitator, Sefhiso Buhlungu said the main objective of CEFE is to improve the entrepreneurial performance and economic actors through guided self-analysis, stimulating enterprises behaviour and general building up of business competencies. He explained that the best way to train entrepreneurs is by being hands on. He said that the programme provides highly participative, action-oriented training in all areas related to entrepreneurship and private sector development. SPEDU acting chief executive officer, Pako Kedisitse said CEFE would assist people who aspire to start businesses, promote and support SMME enterprises; and by stimulating flair for entrepreneurship among participants.  He pointed out that SPEDU as a facilitator can only initiate, facilitate and move the project to implementers who have the capacity to implement it.  He noted that SPTECO is the prospective implementer of the project.

Meanwhile, Kedisitse said SPEDU is about eight months old registered as a company limited by guarantee and therefore undergoing strategic and systems transformation.SPEDU projects manager, Theodore Seemule said the plan is to pilot the training and include many stakeholders.

He said that they also intend to train SPEDU staff in order for them to understand the business language.Seemule mentioned that the agency would depend on stakeholder's experiences. Still at the same workshop, one of the entrepreneurs suggested that Women's Affairs Department should offer training to entrepreneurs before funding them.